Moroccan exporters have every chance of setting a new record in avocado exports in the 2022/23 season (July-June), EastFruit reports. At the same time, representatives of the local industry of avocado growing and exporting are seriously concerned about its future due to the shortage of water in the country and the changing climate.
From July 2022 to January 2023, Morocco exported a record volume of avocados for this period – 35 500 tonnes, which is 60% more than in the same months of the previous season. Thus, before exceeding the total export of the previous season, Moroccan exporters have only 7 000 tonnes of avocados to export to foreign markets. Given the trends of past years, this goal is likely to be achieved almost seamlessly in the remaining months, and Morocco will indeed set a new record in exports at the end of the 2022/23 season.
It should be noted that over the past five seasons, the exports of avocados from Morocco have almost doubled, and in the 2021/22 season they were 42 300 tonnes. At the end of 2022, Morocco also became the ninth largest exporter of avocados globally, although it was the twelfth five years ago. Only some countries in South America (Peru, Chile, Colombia), Europe (Netherlands, Spain), and Africa (Kenya, South Africa) export avocados more than Morocco, while Mexico is the undisputed leader in global exports with an annual supply of 1-1,4 million tonnes.
The geography of Moroccan avocado exports shows the same trends as other fruit and vegetable segments of the Moroccan market (blueberries or strawberries can be viewed as an example). About 75% of Morocco’s avocado exports in the 2017/18 season went to Spain, which is one of the largest investors in Moroccan agribusiness and Morocco’s most important trading partner.
For more information: east-fruit.com